Johnson 2004 - CDLI - UCLA

In the first of my examples of focus-affected *bi-√ verbs, example (7), Gilgamesh
has been put to sleep by Huwawa, a creature that he and Enkidu meet in the Cedar Forest
and Enkidu is attempting to revive Gilgamesh.
(7) Gilgamesh and Huwawa, version A [1.8.1.5], ll. 81-84
[ Topic ama ugu.bi [ Focus tilla 2 iri ki .za.ka.ße 3 nam [ Presupposition bi 2.ib.sar.re]]]
As for their mothers, it is not TO THE MARKETPLACE OF YOUR CITY
that they should be running, (but rather TO THE SONS OF YOUR CITY)
81. d bil 4.ga.mes en.ße 3 i 3.nu 2.de 3.en Gilgamesh, how long will you sleep for?
82. dumu iri ki .za mu.un.de 3.re 7.eß.am 3
270
As for your city’s sons, they came with you,
83. ur 2 ˙ur.saœ.œa 2.ka nam They should not be waiting at the foot of the
ba.e.de 3.gub.bu.ne hills,
84. ama ugu.bi tilla 2 iri ki .za.ka.ße 3
As for their mothers, it is not to the
nam bi 2.ib.sar.re marketplace of your city that they
should be hurrying,
(8) Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta [1.8.2.3], ll. 116 and 118 (cf. 188 and 190)
[ Topic iri.bi] [ Presupposition mußen.gin 7 [ Focus gud 3 us 2.sa.bi.a nam] bi 2.ib.dal.en]
As for their city (= the inhabitants), it is not FROM THE NEST ATTACHED
TO IT (with Aratta as metaphorical tree) that I want them to fly like birds, (on the
contrary, the inhabitants can stay)